So Close!
Girls Lose to Quinter in Sub-State Championship Game
The Lady Indians played well, but shot poorly, in the Sub-State Championship game against Quinter on Saturday, March 4. The Lady Indians shot 25% from the field missing numerous "bunny shots", in their 36-44 loss on Quinter's home court. The Lady Indians season is now complete with a record of 12 wins and 11 losses. Quinter (15-8) won the Sub-State Championship and will play in the State Tournament on Wednesday, March 8, against #1 seed Centralia (21-1).
The St. Francis - Quinter contest was close throughout out, with the deciding run being made by Quinter in the late 3rd and early 4th quarters. It took the Lady Bulldogs just a few seconds to score the opening basket off the tip. After a quick St. Francis time-out 16 seconds into the game, the Lady Indians earned a lay-up by Hanna Bracelin (assist Reagan Beims) and a Beims drive to take the lead. At 4:05, Kylie Crist sank the first of her three treys in the contest moving the scoreboard to 4-5. Lauren Johnson added an offensive rebound basket which was followed by a right-wing jumper by Quinter's Brooke Blackwill (5' 5" senior). A Bracelin post basket (assist Emileigh Dinkel) was answered by an out-of-bounds play by the Lady Bulldogs. This back-and-forth action would continue throughout the evening. St. Francis led 10-9 after an assist by Johnson set up a score by Beims, but Quinter ended the period with a buzzer-beater trey by Crist to lead 10-12 after one quarter of play.
The Lady Bulldogs took a 4-point lead (10-14) on an stick-back basket by Sarah Bird early in the second period. St. Francis answered with a fast-break basket by Taighe Weeter (assist Hanna Bracelin). Rebekah Kitch (5' 5" junior) drained an out-of-bounds play trey, and the Bulldogs followed with an time-out at 6:51. After action resumed, Quinter's tall post player, Peyton Havlas, scored on another stick-back increasing the deficit to seven (12-19). Lauren Johnson swished a right-wing trey reducing the margin to four, but Bird soon scored on another well-executed out-of-bounds play. After another time-out, Crist drained a long deuce from the right wing extending the deficit to eight (15-23). The momentum was going in Quinter's favor, and with the raucous crowd, the Lady Indians needed to respond positively....and they did. St. Francis closed the quarter with four Bracelin free-throws and a fast-break basket by Weeter. The Lady Indians trailed 21-23 at the half.
Neither team scored in the first four minutes of the third period. With 4:02 left in the quarter, Quinter's Abria Fisher (5' 3" junior) made a shot in the lane. Lauren Johnson quickly answered with a drive at the other goal. Late in the period, Crist swished another trey to move the scoreboard to 23-28. With 50 seconds left, Hanna Bracelin answered with a trey for St. Francis (assist Karly Bandel). Havlas made one-of-two free-throws to close the third quarter scoring. St. Francis trailed 26-29.
The Lady Bulldogs opened the final period with three consecutive baskets. Kitch drained a trey capitalizing on a St. Francis turnover. Havlas scored on a lob to the post triggering a St. Francis time-out at 6:49. After returning to the floor, Havlas scored again; this time on an offensive rebound. Leading 26-36 with 5:53 to go, Quinter took another time-out to discuss strategy. Using their superior quickness to delay the game, the Lady Bulldogs began to expire the clock. Lauren Johnson drained a long deuce from the top-of-the-key, but the score was soon answered by two Bird free-throws. Weeter followed with a basket on an assist from Johnson. With 2:33 remaining, St. Francis called time-out. After the time-out, the Lady Indians committed a turnover, but the Lady Bulldogs soon returned the favor. At 1:25, Quinter called time-out leading 30-38. Six seconds after returning to play, Crist scored two-free throws for the Lady Bulldogs moving the scoreboard to 30-40. Hanna Bracelin drained a trey (assist Bandel) on the next possession, but the Lady Indians allowed precious seconds to expire before fouling again. With 47.7 seconds remaining, Crist drained two more free-throws (33-42). Another trey, this one by Reagan Beims, moved the scoreboard to 36-42. It was as close as the Lady Indians would get. The Lady Indians chose not to foul, and with 25.6 remaining, Johnson drew a charge on a Quinter drive. St. Francis missed their next trey attempt and fouled quickly. With 15.3 seconds to go, Crist again sank consecutive free-throws. Another missed trey by the Lady Indians was followed by another foul at 3 seconds. This time, Quinter missed both attempts, but grabbed the rebound ending the game. St. Francis had played well, but lost to Quinter 36-44.
Quinter was led in scoring by Kylie Crist (5' 5" junior) with 20 points. Sarah Bird (5' 5" senior) scored 8 and Peyton Havlas (5' 10" junior) 7. The Lady Bulldogs made 8 of 10 from the line in the 4th period to seal the win with Crist making 6 consecutive free-throws in the 4th period. The Lady Bulldogs made 9 of 16 from the stripe during the contest and were called for 12 fouls.
St. Francis was led in scoring by Hanna Bracelin with 14 points. Lauren Johnson added 9, Reagan Beims 7, and Taighe Weeter 6. The Lady Indians were called for 19 fouls and committed 15 turnovers. St. Francis made 4 of 4 from the line.
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